Flyways.us

Significant improvements in wetland numbers and conditions occurred in the U.S. prairies during 2009. The 2009 pond estimate for the north-central U.S. of 2.9 ± 0.1 million was 108% above last year's estimate (1.4 ± 0.07 million) and 87% above the long-term average (1.5 ± 0.02 million). Considerable precipitation in late spring 2008 and above-normal precipitation over the fall and winter recharged wetlands across the Dakotas and eastern Montana. Drier conditions were noted in western Montana and southeastern South Dakota.